10 Things to Do in Oahu in January

Oahu, the island that is home to Honolulu, the Hawaiian capital, is also the most visited island in this paradisiacal archipelago. If you plan a visit in the first few days of the year, you'll find cool weather, lush scenery and plenty of surf pros around. That month you'll also encounter cloudy days and perhaps some unexpected rain... but don't worry! If the storm changes any of your plans, you'll find plenty of other things to see and do on Oahu.

To welcome the new year, to start the cycle with travel energy or simply because getting to know Oahu is your annual goal... here's what you can see and do on this island in January. Let's get started!

Surfing is a very old sport that was historically practised in many of the Pacific islands such as New Zealand, Tahiti and New Guinea. However, it was only in Hawaii that the sport really took off and to this day it remains the world's most famous surfing destination.

The winter season on Oahu welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists year after year, either to get on their boards or to watch those who dare to do so. During these months, the powerful Pacific storms that hit the region produce unpredictable waves and conditions in the north and west of the island that make even the most experienced surfers think twice.

If you're not part of that group of daredevils chasing these water monsters, as I said, you can be a spectator. Two very popular pro surfing events are regularly held on Oahu's North Shore in January: the Pipeline WSL Championship and the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout. I recommend you check their websites in advance for dates and schedules.

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most important figures in contemporary American history and, in Hawaii, he was always welcomed with a lei.

Here in Hawaii, as in many other places in the United States, the third Monday in January is a day of remembrance and legacy dedicated to this great figure. It is a day to reflect on the efforts for equality and social change, justice and peace, poverty eradication and other social principles that this activist led until his tragic death.

A parade is held with the participation of various activist groups, government, businesses...among others. The parade route starts at Magic Island and then turns onto Kalakaua Avenue to finally arrive at Kapiolani Park. In the park, there are events, music, dancing and lots of food for the whole family to share.

As a tourist, keep in mind that since it's a holiday, you're likely to find some museums and other attractions closed.

Practical info

• Where: The festival is held at Kapiolani Park. 3840 Paki Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
• Price: Free
• When: Third Monday in January

As you probably already know, the Chinese calendar has a different starting date than our Gregorian calendar. The main reason is that it is a lunar calendar, while the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar.

Chinese culture has a particular fondness for calculations, don't you think? So they have managed to make their dates "fit" into our calendar. I don't think it's relevant to offer details on how they arrive at this date in this post, but what I can tell you is that Chinese New Year can fall between January 21st and February 18th.

If you have your trip to Oahu in the first month of the year and you want to know if you will experience this celebration on the island, I recommend you check out a calculator like this one, available on the web.

What to expect from the festival? During the most important celebration of the year in the Chinese calendar, the 'feed the lion' dances are never lacking. As these colourful and cute creatures dance to the rhythm of live music foraging for food and playing with festival-goers, they are said to spread good luck and fortune.

The scene is also decorated with lots of red and gold (prosperity, fortune, good luck and joy), the occasional firecracker, characters demonstrating Kung-fu, handicrafts and Asian cuisine.

Some places where you can see Chinese New Year events and parties on Oahu are the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Ala Moana Center and the Hawaiian Children's Discovery Center.

Hawaii has a significant multicultural richness and, just as the Chinese do, the Japanese community also celebrates its New Year.

The festival is organised in January at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, located in Honolulu. It opens its doors to locals and visitors to learn more about the culture of the "Land of the Rising Sun" with displays of dance, traditional dishes, music and martial arts.

There are also demonstrations of clothing, bonsai art and bunka shishu embroidery. Origami and fine enamel work are other curiosities to be found here.

The festival is for all ages, including workshops and games for the little ones. More information about the dates and programme can be found on the festival's official website.

Practical information

• Where: The festival venue is the Japanese Cultural Center. 2454 S Beretania St, Honolulu, HI 96826
• Price: free
• When: usually on a Sunday in January. See festival website for details

Humpback whales have incalculable significance to Hawaiian culture. They feature in many of their legends and have also been found depicted on petroglyphs at various sites throughout the islands.

Hawaiians have great respect for these majestic creatures, which they see as "guardians of the family". Each winter, after a long journey from the cold waters of Alaska, these giants arrive on Hawaiian soil to breed and welcome new members into the herds.

These animals can be spotted from almost anywhere along the vast Hawaiian coastline, although on Oahu, the most likely place to see them is at the Makapuu lighthouse, or at the various lookout points near Leahi on the southern tip of the island.

In January, the likelihood of seeing these cetaceans is high, although there may be few calves yet. There are several whale-watching tours on the island, some of which include stops to snorkel with sea turtles and colourful fish.

Hawaii is an archipelago of volcanic nature, that is to say, the islands emerged from the sea millions of years ago as a result of underwater volcanoes, and this is precisely what gives the islands their lush and fertile landscapes, with varied ecosystems and great biological richness.

There are currently three active volcanoes on record : Loihi, which is underwater and far off the south coast of the island of Hawaii, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. The latter two are in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site.

Now that you know they are active(especially Kilauea), you can imagine why more than a million visitors a year come to the island of Hawaii or "Big Island".

The landscape is like something from another planet or another era, the vast lava fields glowing nearby and the large fumaroles reminiscent of a prehistoric landscape. The terrain is incredibly varied, with areas of arid desert and rainforest to alpine tundra - yes, you read that right, here in the winter and particularly in January, there can be snow on the highest parts of the mountains.

A trek through this national park is a unique experience that you should definitely schedule for your trip. Bear in mind that January is among the rainiest months of the year in the archipelago and rain is likely to be present. So be prepared for a day with a lot of mud on your shoes and some unexpected downpours. It will be well worth it, I assure you!

January is one of the wettest months of the year in Hawaii. It is true that the rain may cause you to change some plans, but you should also know that the best views and the experience of seeing nature in all its splendour can be done in the rainy months.

Of course, the possibility of doing tours during the rainy season depends a lot on the safety and enjoyment conditions that each attraction can offer you.

Waimea Waterfall is one of the many sceneries you can visit on Oahu's North Shore. With an undemanding route, surrounded by landscapes of countless shades of green and a refreshing waterfall (which, by the way, you can swim in the pool), a trip to this waterfall is an excellent option for a day in nature.

There are tours to the Waimea Waterfall area from various points on the island, each with different activities.

One that I recommend is a ten-hour tour that, in addition to the waterfall, will take you to various points of interest around Oahu. These usually include the famous Diamond Head Crater, Sandy Beach, Sunset Beach and even pineapple plantations and shrimp farms.

You're in for a long day, but you'll get to see some of Oahu's extraordinary sites from north to south.

Another place to have a great time this season on Oahu is Kualoa Ranch. This place, with an area of more than 1,600 hectares, was part of the locations of a very famous production of the 90's: **Jurassic Park.**Now do you see why I tell you that the landscapes here transport you to prehistoric times?

This huge private property has been working since 1850 with the vision of protecting and enhancing the natural beauty present, with recreational and production activities (agriculture and aquaculture) compatible and respectful with the environment.
There are several tourist activities and circuits offered in the park and the Jurassic Park tours are among the most popular, especially for the little ones.

One very exciting tour is the Raptor Tour, where you can ride through the hills in an all-terrain vehicle as if you were running away from a nimble dinosaur.
This month of muddy puddles where you'll feel like you're part of a stampede with the huge reptiles is a lot of fun! Be prepared with extra clothes and enjoy this Jurassic park.

Practical information

• Where: The circuit is located at Kualoa ranch. 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI. 96744
• Price: from 127 euros
• When: January (but open all year round)

With so many nature trails and so much mud and wet clothes, perhaps it's time to suggest a quieter, more cultural option that will... at least keep you dry if it starts to rain during your January trip: visit a museum.

One highly recommended option is the Honolulu Museum of Art. The space, with more than 50,000 art objects, is one of the largest collections of Asian and Pacific art in the United States. Additional exhibits include collections by Van Gogh, Gauguin, Warhol and Hokusai, among others.

The museum' s collections are for all ages, so you can bring the little ones along. Keep in mind that it can take between two and three hours to visit the museum in its entirety. It is housed in a beautiful Honolulu building with gardens, cafes and a small theatre.

Practical info

• Where: Honolulu Museum of Art. 900 South Beretania Street. Honolulu, HI. 96814
• Price: Average price 20 euros (adults). 0-18 years: free.
• When: 3rd Monday in January

As above, another particularly convenient and "indoor" activity on a rainy January day is to visit the Waikiki Aquarium, located just a few minutes' walk from Waikiki Beach.

More than 3,000 species coexist in this living setting, including colourful fish, corals, elegant jellyfish, turtles, sharks and even huge iridescent clams - you'll be amazed at the extraordinary richness of this part of the world!

The aquarium also offers various activities and classes for visitors to interact more closely with nature and learn more about the conservation of these ecosystems.

If you want to check out more details about their exhibits, you will find them in the following link.

Practical info

• Where: Waikiki Aquarium. 2777 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI. 96815
• Price: average price €12 (adults), €5 (ages 4-12) and free (3 and under).
• When: January (but open all year round).

In this part of the world, winter means rainy season. Although not the heaviest, January's recurrent rainfall can change your outdoor plans.

January sees the lowest temperatures (average 23°C and minimum 19°C), which is usually very tolerable for a visitor. However, if you visit the highlands (hiking volcanoes or other mountains) you should be aware that this temperature can drop abruptly.

The average water temperature in January is 24.5°C, with very little variation throughout the year (24°C in March to 27°C in September).